Electric clock.



PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

H. SCOTT.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

AuPLwATIoH FILED SEPTA?, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

wnNEssEs UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

HERBERT SCOTT, OF BRADFORD, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,322, dated September 20, 1904. Application filer. September 17, 1902. Serial No. 123,689. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, HERBERT SCOTT, a subject of the King of England. residing at Bradford, in the county of York. England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Clocks, of which the following is a specification, reference beingl had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to electric clocks, instruments, or machines in which a pendulum bal ance-wheel or torsion-wheel driving a train of wheels or other mechanism is kept in mo-- tion by the intermittent action or energization of electrically-controlled or electromagnetic means.

Heretofore attempts have been made to construct electric clocks in which the electromagnet is energized when the swing or amplitude of the pendulum falls below the normal; but they have failed owing to the complication and delicacy of the current-closers employed and to the necessary friction entailed by the added mechanism and to the interruption of the current caused by the fouling of the contactpoints. Y

My invention has for its objects to simplify and cheapen the construction and to insure the reliability of such clocks, instruments, or machines by providing for the energization of the electromagnet at the proper time without the addition of any apparatus other than that required to drive the train of wheels and thereby to reduce the friction of the working parts to a minimum, to insure that when the swing or amplitude of the pendulum or the rotary movement of the balance or torsion wheel has fallen below the normal the circuit shall be closed and opened at the exact points desired and during the smallest possible and most efficient part of the arc described by the pendulum or balance wheel or torsion wheel, and to provide for the self-cleaning of the contactpoints by means of a wiping or moving' contact.

My invention is applicable to clocks, selfregistering' barometers, and the like, workmans telltale-check instruments, advertising machines or toys, or any similar instruments or machines in which a train of wheels or any other mechanism is required to be driven, and

may also be employed to wind up the spring of any instrument or machine or of the striking-train of a striking-clock.

My invention includes various features of construction and of combination of parts, as will appear from the particular description hereinafter contained of the apparatus cmbodying my invention, (shown in the accompanying drawings,) and I will new particularly describe such apparatus and will thereafter point out my invention in claims.

Figure l is a rear elevation of a pendulumclock containing apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation showing a position of parts upon a diminished movement of the pendulum. Figs. Ll, 5, and 6 are detail elevations of different modified constructions. Fig'. 7 is a detail elevation, and Fig. 8 a detail plan, of another modified construction. Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive, are detail elevations of other modified constructions.

The clock shown in Fig. l comprises as a suitable casing c, in the lower part of which is located a battery which supplies electric current to an electromag'net c, this electromag'net beingl fixed in the clock-casing' and being adapted to attract an armature d and the armature being carried at the lower end of and constitutingl part of a pendulum of which the rod c is hung at its upper end on a stud f', as usual. The fixed electromagnet c and its armature a., carried by the pendulum, constitute the impelling means which give an impetus to the pendulum, the construction being such that the circuit is closed at the cxact moment when the armature approaches the electromagnet and remains closed for the period req'uired to give the desired impetus to the pendulum, and the arrangement shown is such that the circuit is closed and opened as the pendulum approaches the extremity of an oscillation. A suitable train of gears is provided to actuate the hands 1/ and L, (see Fig. 2, and this train of gears is actuated by a toothed moving part, which is shown as the ratchet-wheel r,fixed upon the arbor j of the first pinion ofV the train of gears, and this ratchet-wheel is actuated by the pendulum and constitutes the driving part of the clock-train. For the purpose of actuating the ratchet-wheel l provide engaging' means for the ratchetwheel, such engaging means being partly controlled by the movement of the pendulum or oscillating means and partly controlling the ratchet-wheel to prevent backward movement thereof, and in the construction shown in the main views of the drawings, Figs. l to 3, inclusive, this engaging means comprises two pawls and Z, actuated by the pendulum and also comprises astop-pawl or click m, having a fixed support. The pawl Z is set so as to engage the ratchet-wheel slightly in advance of the pawl 71:, and, as shown, the advance pawl Z is pivoted on the pin 0, which passes through the pendulum-rod e, and the rear pawl is pivoted upon the advance pawl Z at the point p inI proximity to the pivotal point of the advance pawl Z. The advance pawl Z carries a contact-finger q, which is adapted to make contact with a fixed pino, held on an insulating-block s. The contact-pin o is connected to one of the terminals of the battery Z by a wire Z, and the other terminal of the battery Z is connected by a wire fit to the electromagnet c, and from the electromagnet c and wire o is connected to the metallic frame w, so that when the finger g comes in contact with the pin of the circuit is closed through the electromagnet c. and the electromagnet is energized. With the normal swing of the pendulum the two pawls Ir and Zwill be moved over and in rear of a tooth of the ratchet-wheel and on the return stroke of the pendulum the advance pawl Z will engage with the tooth and move the ratchet-wheel one tooth, and these movements will be continued without closing the circuit, the stop-pawl or click m preventing backward movement of the ratchet-wheel '1,'. however, the swing of the pendulum diminishes, so that the. advance pawl Z is not carried over and in rear of the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel, this advance pawl will remain on top of this tooth, but the rear pawl will be carried over and in rear of and will engage with the tooth, and the parts will then be in the position shown in Fig. 3, and on the return stroke of the pendulum the rear pawl r; will engage with the tooth and actuate the ratchet-wheel, and the advance pawl Z will ride upon the ratchet-tooth, and by reason of the higher position of the advance pawl the contactlinger q carried thereby will be brought into contact with the fixed pin fr as the armature CZ on the pendulum approaches the electromagnet c, and the circuit will be closed at just the right time to give an impetus to the pendulum and will be opened at the proper time and before the completion of the swing of the pendulum. The return movement of the pendulum will cause the advance pawl Z to drop in rear of the ratchettooth, and on this return movement there will be no contact of the contact-finger q and When, l

fixed pin fr, and the pendulum will have received a sufficient impetus to restore the normal swing', and the advance pawl will be carried over the next tooth. and the movements will be continued, as first above described, until the swing of the pendulum again falls below the normal. The movement of the contact-finger q effects a wiping contact with the fixed pin 0, thereby rubbing the contactpoints and preventing fouling thereof. The fixed contact-pin r may be adjustably held in any suitable manner so that the points and duration of contact may be nicely determined, as by providing the screw s1', which clamps the insulated block s to the frame with a slotted hole in the frame, as indicated.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 4 the pawl mechanism comprises two pawls/tl and Z, as above described; but these pawls are separately pivoted at the same point on the pendulum-rod.

ln the modified construction shown in Fig. 5 the pawl mechanism comprises a single pawl 7n', which is provided with a step Z and which normally moves over and in rear of the next tooth, so that the main part of the pawl will engage with the tooth and the pawl will drop to the bottom of the tooth. Upon a diminished swing of the pendulum the step Z only will engage with the tooth and the pawl will `be carried forward in higher position and will close the circuit of the impelling means, as above described.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 6 the ratchet-wheel v1' is made with a step or notch in each tooth, and a single drivingpawl Z112 is provided. When the swing of the pendulum diminishes, the driving-pawl rides upon the step or notch Z2 and makes contact, as above described.

ln the modified construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 two ratchets z' and Z', both fixed to the arbor j', and the ratchet t, set slightly in ad- Vance of the ratchet i, take the place of the stepped ratchet of the modification shown in In the modified construction shown in Fig. 9 the stop-pawl or click m is provided with a step m2 and is also provided with a contactpin fr', and the contact-finger Q, carried by the driving-pawl in?, makes contact with this contact-pin 7" when, upon a diminished stroke of the pendulum, the step of the stop-pawl m engages a tooth of the ratchet-wheel.

In the construction just described and shown in Fig. 9 and in the other constructions, (shown in Figs. 10 and 11,) in which the contact-pin is carried by the stop-pawl, the impelling-electromagnet c is placed in proximity to the left-hand extremity of the swing' ofthe pendulum, as shown in Fig. 9, whereas in all other pendulum constructions shown the impelling-electromagnet is placed in proximity to the right-hand extremity of the pendulum, as shown in Fig. l.

IOO

In the modied construction shown in Fig. l0 two stop-pawls or clicks m3 and m4 are provided, one slightly in advance of the other, in place of the stepped stop-pawl or click of the modification shown in Fig'. 9.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. ll I employ two driving-pawls fr and y,'the driving-pawl cc acting on the top side of the ratchet-wheel on one swing' of the pendulum and the driving-pawl y acting on the Linder side of the ratchet-wheel on the return swing of the pendulum. I employ a pawl or click 2', with a contact-pin mounted thereon, adapted to cooperate with a contact-linger carried by the upper driving-pawl. Vith a diminished swing of the pendulum the pawl or clicka remains on the top of a ratchet-tooth and in this position makes contact with the contactinger e.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 12 I provide two breaks in the electric circuit, one oi' which is closed at fixed intervals and the other of which is closed upon a diminished swing of the pendulum. The contact closed at iixed intervals is provided by an arm 2 on the ratchet-wheel vf, which closes the lingers 3 and 4 upon each other by contact with the linger 3 once in every revolution of the ratchet-wheel. The closing of the other break in the circuit upon a diminished swing of the pendulum isv effected by mechanism substantially the same as shown in the main views or' the drawings except that the advance pawl l carries a contact-pin Q2, which cop-' erates with an adjustable iixed Contact finger r2.

In the modilied construction shown in Fig. 13 a balance or torsion wheel 6 takes the place of the pendulum and carries an armature d', which is arranged so as to be attracted by an electromagnet d. The ratchet-wheel and the two driving-pawls t' and lare constructed and operate in the same manner as shown in the main views of the drawings.

It is obvious that other modilications may be made in the constructions shown and described within the spirit and scope of my invention.

WV hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ish

l. The combination, with a toothed movable part and mechanism actuated thereby, of oscillating means, electrically-controlled impelling means for the oscillating means, and engaging means for the toothed part, such engaging means being in part controlled by the movement or' the oscillating' means to actuate the'toothed part and in part controlling the toothed part to prevent backward movement thereof and including a circuit-controller controllingthe impellingI means and such engagingmeans and toothed part being constructed to coact to move the engaging means into position to energize the impelling means upon a diminished movement of the oscillating' means.

2. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel,

of oscillating' means, electrically controlled4v impelling means for the oscillating means, and

engaging means for the ratchet-wheel, such engaging means being in part controlled by the movement of the oscillating means to actuate the ratchet-wheel and in partcontrolling the ratchet-wheel to prevent backward movement thereof and such engaging means including a circuit-closer adapted to close the circuit for the impelling means and such engaging means and ratchet-wheel being constructed to coact to move the engaging means into circuitclosing position upon a diminished movement of the oscillating means and to close such circuit only when the oscillating means is in position to receive an impulse from the impelling' means.

3. The combination, with a toothed movable part and mechanism actuated thereby, of oscillating means, electrically-controlled impelling means i'or the oscillating means, and engaging means for the toothed part, such engaging means being in part controlled by the movement of the oscillating means to actuate the toothed part and in part controlling' the toothed part to prevent backward movement thereoi` and such engaging means including a circuit-closer adapted to make a wiping contact to close the circuit Jfor the impelling means and such engaging means and toothed part being constructed to coact to move the engaging means into circuit-closing position upon a diminished movement oi' the oscillating means.

4. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel, of oscillating means, electrically-controlled impelling means for the oscillating' means and engaging means for the ratchet-wheel, such engaging means being in part controlled by the movement of the oscillating means to actuate the ratchet-wheel and in part controlling the ratchet-wheel to prevent backward move'- ment thereoil and such engaging means including a circuit-closer adapted to make a wiping contact to close the circuit for the impelling means and such engaging means and ratchetwheel being constructed to coact to move the engaging means into circuit-closing position upon a diminished movement of thc oscillating means and to close such circuit only when the oscillating means is in position to receive an impulse from the impelling means.

5. The combination, with a toothed movable part, and mechanism actuated thereby, of oscillating means, electrically-controlled impelling means for the oscillating means, and pawl mechanism for the toothed part controlled by the movement of the oscillating' means to actuate the toothed part,such pawl mechanism including a circuit-controller controlling the impellingA means and such pawl mechanism and toothed part being constructed so that the pawl mechanism will ride upon a tooth of the' toothed part and be moved by the oscil- IOO IIO

lating means into position to energize the impeiling means upon a diminished movement of the oscillating means.

6. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel, of oscillating means, electrically-controlled impelling means for the oscillating means, and pawl mechanism for the ratchet-wheel controlled by the movement of the oscillating means to acutate the ratchet-wheel, such pawl mechanism including a circuit-closer adapted to closel the circuit for the impelling means and such pawl mechanism and ratchet-wheel being constructed so that the pawl mechanism will ride upon a tooth of the ratchet-wheel upon a diminished movement of the oscillating means and close the circuit for the oscillating means only when the oscillating means is in position to receive an impulse from the impelling means.

7. The combination, with a toothed movable part and mechanism actuated thereby, of oscillating means, electrically-controlled impelling means for the oscillating means, and pawl mechanism for the toothed part controlled by the movement of the oscillating means to actuate the toothed part, such pawl mechanism including a circuit-closer adapted to make a wiping contact to close the circuit for the impelling means and such pawl mechanism and toothed part being' constructed so that the paw] mechanism will ride upon a tooth of the toothed part upon a diminished movement .of the oscillating means and be moved by the oscillating means into and out of circuit-closing position as the oscillating means is approaching the extremity of an oscillation.

8. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel and mechanism actuated thereby, of oscillating means, electrically-controlled impelling means for the oscillating means, two drivingpawls for the ratchet-wheel, one in advance of the other and both controlled by the movement of the oscillating means, one of such pawls controlling a circuit-controller to energize the impelling means upon a diminished movement of the oscillating means; and means for preventing backward movement of the ratchet-Wheel.

9. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel, of oscillating means, electrically-controlled impelling' means for the oscillating means, two driving-pawls of the ratchet-wheel, one in advance of the other and both controlled by the movement of the oscillating means, a circuitcloser carried by the rear driving-pawl and adapted to close the circuit for the impelling means when the rear driving-pawl rides upon a tooth of the ratchet-wheel upon a diminished movement of the oscillating means and to close such circuit only when the oscillating means is in position to be actuated by the impelling means, and means for preventing backward movement of the ratchet-wheel.

10. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel and mechanism actuated thereby, of oscillating means, electrically-controlled impelling means for the oscillating means, two pawls for the ratchet-wheel, one in advance of the other and both controlled by the movement of the oscillating means, a circuit-closer carried by one of such pawls and adapted to make a wiping contact to close the circuit for the impelling means,the pawl carrying the circuit-closer being constructed to ride upon a tooth of the ratchet-wheel upon a diminished movement of the oscillating means and to be moved by the oscillating means into and out of circuit-closing position as the oscillating means is approaching the extremity of an oscillation; and means for preventing backward movement of the ratchet-wheel.

11. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel and mechanism actuated thereby, of a pendulum, electromagnetic impelling means therefor, and engaging means for the ratchet-wheel in part carried by the pendulum and in part controlling the ratchet-wheel to prevent backward movement thereof, such engaging means including a circuit-closer adapted to close the circuit of the electromagnetic impelling means and such engaging' means and ratchet-wheel being constructed to coact to move the engaging means into circuit-closing position upon a diminished movement of the pendulum.

12. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel, of a pendulum, electromagnetic impelling means therefor, and engaging means for the ratchet-Wheel in part carried by the pendulum and in part controlling the ratchet-wheel to prevent backward movement thereof, such engaging means including a circuit-closer adapted to close the circuit of the electromagnetic impelling means and such engaging means and ratchet-wheel being constructed to coact to move the engaging means into circuit-closing position upon a diminished movement of the pendulum and to close such circuit only when the pendulum is in position to receive an irnpulse from the impelling means.

13. The combination,- with a ratchet-wheel and mechanism actuated thereby, of a pendulum, electromagnetic impelling means therefor, and engaging means for the ratchet-wheel in part carried by the pendulum and in part controlling the ratchet-wheel to prevent backward movement thereof, such engaging means including a circuit-closer adapted to make a wiping contact to close the circuit of the electromagnetic impelling means and such engaging' means and ratchet-wheel being constructed to coact to move the engaging means into circuit-closing position upon a diminished movement of the pendulum and to close such circuit only when the pendulum is in position to receive an impulse from the impelling means.

14. The combination, with a ratchet-wheel and mechanism actuated thereby, of oscillating means, impelling means therefor, and pawl mechanism for the ratchet-wheel controlled by the movement of the oscillating means to actuate the ratchet-Wheel, such paWl mechanism carrying a circuit-closing iinger, a contact-pin with which such circuit-closing linger is adapted to cooperate to close the circuit for the impelling means, such pawl mechanism being` constructed to ride upon a tooth of the ratchet-Wheel upon a diminished movement of the oscillating means and to be moved by the oscillatingl means into and out of circuit-closing position as the oscillating means is approaching' the extremity oi' an oscillation, substantially as Set forth.

15. The combination with a ratchet-Wheel and mechanism actuated thereby, of a pendulum, electromagnetic impelling means therefor, two pawls tor the ratchet-Wheel, one in advance of the other and both carried by the l HERBERT SCOTT.

Witnesses:

Guo. RnvILL, SAML. H. CRAvEN. 

